Method and means of insulating a building foundation wall

Abstract

A method of insulating a building having a foundation wall disposed at least partially below grade includes substantially covering the exterior surface of the foundation wall with panels of insulation material, securing the panels thereto with flanged retaining members interposed between adjacent edges of adjacent panels. The retaining members are secured to the foundation wall with the flanges thereof partially overlying the adjacent panels. The top edge of the insulation material is then covered to prevent the impingement of water and foreign matter onto the top edge and between the panels and foundation wall. A system for securing panels of insulation material to the exterior surface of a building foundation wall includes a plurality of flanged retaining members, each including a base portion and at least one flange laterally extended from the base portion to overly a panel in abutment with the base portion. The system contemplates securing the base portions to the exterior foundation wall surface and protecting the top edge of the panels with an elongated rain shield adapted for securement to the exterior wall surface and including a downwardly and outwardly inclined top surface for directing water, foreign matter and the like exteriorly of the panels and retaining members. Those portions of the panels and retaining members which are exposed above grade may be covered with siding or the like.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of insulating a building having a foundation wall disposed at least partially below grade, said foundation wall having interior and exterior surfaces, comprising, substantially covering the exterior surface of said foundation wall with a plurality of panels of insulation material,   securing said panels against said exterior surface by interposing flanged retaining members between adjacent edges of adjacent panels with the flanges thereof at least partially overlying said adjacent panels, and securing said retaining members to said foundation wall,   covering the top edge of said insulation material including sealing the seam between said top edge and exterior surface of said foundation wall, thereby preventing the impingement of water and foreign matter onto said top edge and between said panel and foundation wall,   the step of sealing said seam comprising positioning an elongated rain strip on said top edge and securing said rain strip to said exterior surface of said foundation wall,   providing said retaining members as elongated retaining strips including a central abutment portion and a pair of flanges directed outwardly therefrom, and   abutting adjacent panels against opposite sides of the central abutment portion of the retaining strip interposed therebetween.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 further comprising excavating a space adjacent said foundation wall to provide space for installing said panels of insulation material and retaining members, and backfilling said space subsequent to the installation of said panels and retaining members. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of securing said retaining members includes inserting a fastener through said retaining member and into the foundation wall. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying an exterior covering over those portions of said panels and retaining members which are disposed above grade. 
     
     
       5. A method of insulating a building having a foundation wall disposed at least partially below grade, said foundation wall having interior and exterior surfaces, comprising, substantially covering the exterior surface of said foundation wall with a plurality of panels of insulation material,   securing said panels against said exterior surface by interposing flanged retaining members between adjacent edges of adjacent panels with the flanges thereof at least partially overlying said adjacent panels, and securing said retaining members to said foundation wall,   covering the top edge of said insulation material including sealing the seam between said top edge and exterior surface of said foundation wall, thereby preventing the impingement of water and foreign matter onto said top edge and between said panel and foundation wall,   the step of sealing said seam comprising positioning an elongated rain strip on said top edge and securing said rain strip to said exterior surface of said foundation wall,   providing said retaining members as elongated retaining strips including a central abutment portion and a pair of flanges directed outwardly therefrom, and   arranging adjacent panels sufficiently close to the opposite sides of the central abutment portion of the retaining strip interposed therebetween that said pair of flanges of the retaining strip at least partially overlie said adjacent panels.   
     
     
       6. In combination with a building having a foundation wall disposed at least partially below grade, said foundation wall having interior and exterior surfaces, a system for securing a plurality of panels of insulation material to the exterior surface of the building, comprising, a plurality of panels of insulation material arranged relative to said foundation wall to substantially cover the exterior surface thereof,   a plurality of flanged retaining members secured to the exterior surface of said foundation wall, each retaining member including an elongated base portion interposed between adjacent edges of adjacent panels, and a pair of flanges laterally extended from said base portion so as to at least partially overlie the exterior surfaces of said adjacent panels for retaining said panels in position against the foundation wall,   means for securing said base portion to said exterior wall surface whereby said pair of flanges are operative to retain said panels against said exterior wall surface, and   an elongated rain shield secured to said exterior wall surface at a position in engagement with the top edge of said panels and including a downwardly and outwardly inclined top surface for directing water, foreign matter and the like exteriorly of said panels and retaining members.   
     
     
       7. The system of claim 6 wherein said flanged retaining members include a flat surface retaining member including an elongated base member having parallel spaced apart sidewalls adapted for abutment against the adjacent sides of adjacent panels and a pair of parallel flanges laterally extended from opposite sides of said base member at right angles thereto. 
     
     
       8. The system of claim 7 wherein said flanged retaining members include an exterior corner retaining member including a generally L-section base member defining an interior generally right angle section channel adapted for receiving an exterior corner of a foundation wall and a pair of flanges disposed at right angles to one another and exteriorly of said channel for retaining insulation panels against the foundation walls forming said exterior corner. 
     
     
       9. The system of claim 8 wherein said flanged retaining members include an interior corner retaining member including a generally rectangle section base member and a pair of flanges extended laterally from one corner of said base member, said flanges being arranged perpendicular to one another and parallel to respective sides of said base member. 
     
     
       10. The system of claim 8 wherein said flanged retaining members include an end retaining member including an elongated generally rectangle section base member and a flange extended laterally therefrom and parallel to one side thereof. 
     
     
       11. The system of claim 6 wherein said means for securing said base portion includes a fastener adapted for insertion through said base member and into said foundation wall. 
     
     
       12. The system of claim 11 wherein said base portion of said retaining members includes a pair of closely spaced apart webs defining a slot therebetween for receiving said fastener. 
     
     
       13. The system of claim 6 wherein said retaining members and rain shield are integrally formed plastic extrusions.